Sony may offer swag in exchange for your Cell cycles

So it's one thing getting people to contribute their spare processor cycles to a noble cause like Folding@Home, but it would be quite another convincing gamers to leave their PS3s on at night so that large companies -- like the ones that they perceive screw them over on a regular basis -- can solve tough problems and make even more money. Yet the Financial Times is reporting that Sony has already fielded several inquiries from private firms keen on doing just that, harnessing the power of all those idle Cell processors to simulate a relatively cheap cheap supercomputer; of course, this leaves the Japanese giant in a sticky situation of trying to capitalize on that interest in the wake of a likely backlash from owners. The simplest solution? Offer gamers a carrot, or in this case, free points, products, exclusives, etc., etc. -- something so they feel like they're profiting too, and ideally, in direct correlation to the amount of time they donate. So far this is only speculation and conjecture, though, so turn down that beeping on your swag radar -- and make sure that whatever you do, you don't let Sony bribe you into giving up all your Folding donations for a few bonus game maps and a bunch of stickers for your controller.

[Via Joystiq]

[angelsvairwaves1 @ Apr 11th 2007 11:12PM]

It's a great idea, but people are just too selfish to let it happen.

[kingofwale @ Apr 11th 2007 11:20PM]

>like the ones that they perceive screw them over on a regular basis -- can solve tough problems and make even more money.


Just like Stanford University. Those bastards trying to cure cancer. DAMN THEM!!!!

I just love how Engadget can spin this in a negative way. Sony added firmware 1.6 with nothing about for the good of science, just like countless of PS3 owners like myself who rather pick up the electricity bills to help out a worthy cause.

now, if Sony wants to award me with some swag. I will take it, it might be Sony's way of achievement points. but hey, I'm going to do it regardless.

[Chris @ Apr 11th 2007 11:53PM]

I don't think you understand this post...if this is true, Sony would be setting up its own distributed computing network for commercial/company uses, NOT awarding you for running Folding@Home. Engadget's post correctly predicts this would pull donated CPU time for cancer cures to paid-for commercial computing. There is no 'spin' in this post.

[Zorque @ Apr 11th 2007 11:42PM]

Sounds great for all the time you'll spend not playing it.

[Frankenstein Black @ Apr 12th 2007 12:00AM]

FINALLY! I have been carrying on about this over at PS3Fanboy for 2 weeks now (#'s 14&6), see?
http://www.ps3fanboy.com/2007/04/04/worried-about-folding-home-dont-be/#comments
http://www.ps3fanboy.com/2007/03/28/the-cost-of-folding-to-your-home-and-wallet/#comments
NOW BRING ON THE SWAG! Oh, a discount game coupon or 2 wouldn't hurt either. Bet still, a couple free months of gamefly. ;^)...

[kingofwale @ Apr 12th 2007 12:35AM]

>Engadget's post correctly predicts this would pull donated CPU time for cancer cures to paid-for commercial computing.


No, I don't think you understand, why would ANYBODY donate their money and CPU power to Sony if it wasn't for a good cause?

unless of course, Sony shares most of the profit in term of swags.

[Simon P @ Apr 12th 2007 12:40AM]

Thankyou for pointing it out to the other not so attentive readers out there Chris. This is for commercial projects that Sony wants to profit from. It will undoubdtedly pull chips away from worthy cancer-curing causes for the sake of a discount coupon or worse still, a couple of months of free gamefly.......as your following poster sadly proves. Shame on Sony for this. Why not pull everyone together for something worthwhile and still reward us. Talk about good PR.

[Simon P @ Apr 12th 2007 12:41AM]

and they're voting him highly ranked.....tut tut

[kingofwale @ Apr 12th 2007 1:10AM]

>and they're voting him highly ranked.....tut tut

considering mentioning of the word 'porn' pretty much guarantee you a high ranking. I really wouldn't read too much into that Simon. :)

[Timbobsteve @ Apr 12th 2007 1:26AM]

This post made me vomit a little inside my mouth.

Firstly... a lot of people read this post incorrectly. Sony is looking to sell the ability to harness users PS3's to companies that want to use it for their own benefit... not for NPO like Folding@Home. If this was to go through you would be helping random companies like Chevron calculate deep-sea oil drilling sites and helping the CIA calculate the location for their latest illegal detention center (what?). The supposed upside for users that donate their PS3s to this money making scheme is that thye get coupons or prizes.

Other than mentioning Folding@Home once in this post... it has nothing to do with that humanitarian project. Please learn to read.. and if you can do that.. then at least learn to understand what you have read.

[Greg Becerra @ Apr 12th 2007 1:33AM]

Just because these "extra" cycles will be for a profitable commercial endeavor does not mean it will not solve something important, like finding a cure for cancer.

If a non-profit university uses computer cycles to find a cure for cancer, private companies will still most likely profit from this also.

The only difference with what Sony is doing is that the end PS3 user will probably not get to choose HOW their PS3 cycles will be used.

The problem for the consumer is that the REAL cost may not be easily apparent. Has anyone calculated the average energy cost to the consumer? There is probably some kind of calculable cost associated with the decreased lifespan of the PS3 from this use (any use should slightly shorten the lifespan due to heat and entropy). So what is the cost to the consumer vs. the value of what Sony is willing to offer?

If this is really going to be a commercial endeavor, then it might be cool and make sense to get an offer like stock price discounts/credits for companies that use this service based on how much time you give.

Sony should be given credit for trying to tap into untapped resources. It's only evil if they do it without telling you.

Greg Becerra

[Afsheen @ Apr 12th 2007 1:53AM]

Folding@home is one thing. But if Sony thinks I'm going to run my PS3 so some fucking corporation can figure out better ways to screw consumers/each other/the planet in exchange for some cheap, shiny bobbles, they can kiss my ass.

[Richard @ Apr 12th 2007 2:51AM]

They’re not forcing anyone at gunpoint to use their PS3 for these commercial projects. They’re simply offering users a choice. If a user chooses he can still use his PS3 for Folding@Home. However, if a user is a bit short of cash he can instead use his PS3 for the commercial projects to get discount on games he may not otherwise be able to afford.

Nobody is being forced to do anything and it’s up to the end user what they use their PS3 for, be that charitable or for their own gain, so what’s the problem?

[hackedbyjoe @ Apr 12th 2007 4:38AM]

The problem is that Sony will be taking cycles away from Folding@Home and using them for their own personal gain. Users might spend their extra cycles to help corporate greed for personal gain that would otherwise be used for medical research. I pity the intelligence of such a user. Get 5 dollars off a game or help cure cancer? 5 dollars off?....Cure cancer? Hmm, like it's even a question.

Also, if your "strapped for cash," WTF are you doing with a $600 PS3!?

[n.p. @ Apr 12th 2007 6:11AM]

the article states sony was approached, not the other way around, to use their network for processing purposes. this is a novel approach and sony would be the primary benefactor because the companies would be paying sony, not the consumer. the consumer's payoff is that sony offers something to the consumer in return. the idea is a good one. folding capabilities probably wouldn't be diminished very much if the processor isn't even working at full capacity anyway. the additional folds will probably take place concurrently.

[Andir3.0 @ Apr 12th 2007 7:51AM]

Apparently people are missing a very important key to all this. Optionality.

If you want to help cure cancer, do it. If you don't. Don't.

If you want to help a pharmaceutical company research a pill to treat diabetes or glaucoma, feel free.

It's consumer choice, but your getting something in return... besides a larger electric bill.

[ZRX @ Apr 12th 2007 8:19AM]

Should Sony be forced to disclose the actual project your PS3 is working on so you can make an ethical decision on whether you want to be a part of said project ?

[thefanaticalone @ Apr 12th 2007 8:48AM]

this isn't selling your soul, it's recouping some of the cash you've outlaid on a machine that spends a great deal of time idle - in some ways it's no different to google adsense on a blog and few people bemoan that if it's done properly.

I suggested this in principle back in February on my blog http://blog.commsconsulting.co.uk/2007/02/19/does-personal-computing-have-a-future/ (but of course Sony have been thinking about this for much longer) I backed the wrong horse but the theory is the same. I suppose it makes more sense that Sony would do this than Microsoft erode their own revenues. Sony could even give you a choice - donate cell power to worthwhile projects like fold@home; donate your earnings to charity or accrue cash yourself.

I like it..... more please

[Wasted_uk @ Apr 12th 2007 9:13AM]

Depending on how this idea is implemented, it could be that users will get a sort of 'control panel' to adjust how much Cell resource is given to which projects. It should be possible to run more than one project at a time.

[[e-mail] @ Apr 12th 2007 10:02AM]

Sony has done nothing wrong, but they would be doing great wrong if they bride people with cheap (for thme) bonus's in exchange for their generic computing power.
And yes, if they do that they most certainly should reveal what its for.
They wouldnt legaly have too, but moraly they certainly should.
Sadly, I suspect it would get hidden in a deep EULA.


However, Companys have approached Sony, we can not extrapolate sonys actions from that alone.

[Mrfreezie @ Apr 12th 2007 11:18AM]

So let me get this straight, Sony wants you to leave your PS3 on for them, and not Folding@home.

What a terrible company.

[Simon P @ Apr 12th 2007 11:39AM]

I'll clarify my earlier comments. I work in cancer research. The thought that some kid that doesn't know any better is going to donate his cycles to some unnamed bigcorp to do whatever for 5 bucks off his next game breaks my heart. Now if it's another worthwhile cause that's not so bad. Sony will have to be very open about what our cycles are being used for.

[swmarc @ Apr 12th 2007 1:06PM]

Thats interesting but what is it going to cost you in electricity to run your PS3 all night.

[jazeej @ Apr 12th 2007 2:13PM]

You Have The Right to opt in or NOT. Somtimes when my PS3 is not in use in Fold. Sometimes I don't.....!! Sorry, but I would like to have the oppurtunity to use my PS3 for other things when it's Idle besides what's currently available. I think Sony should really consider this as I would gladly give processing time of my PS3 to other Worthy causes.... get it ...Worthy Causes..... and heck.... If I can get something back in return for it.... then all the better.... Its my PS3 and I can do with it what I like.... nuff Said.....

[Ronald McD @ Apr 12th 2007 3:59PM]

As some of the other posters have said, Sony would just be giving users more options. It's up to you what you want to do. If people want to donate their processing power to build the world's tallest escalator, then so be it. That's their prerogative.

Do you pat yourself on the back for using Folding@Home? It's the lazy (but wealthy) man's way of helping. Yeah, you're contributing, but come on... what did you do for cancer before Folding@Home made it so effortless?

Most of you already make similar choices when you decide to buy a piece of entertainment instead of donating it to a good cause. So don't get all high and mighty, casting stones at Sony. At the end of the day, it's up to the people.

[James @ Apr 12th 2007 4:31PM]

Heh, it's funny to see the leftards squirm when the free market kicks in. That's what this is -- your idle processor cycles are a commodity with a market value. If you want to donate that market value to a worthy cause, great -- you should get a tax deduction, at least for the cost of electricity, the same as if you donated to ACS or similar. If you want to "sell" your cycles to Sony's business partners for some "shiny baubles", they're *yours* to sell. Just because you didn't *know* your CPU time had value, and now Sony is alerting you to that fact, doesn't make them monsters. The cancer researchers et al were getting a free ride (which is great -- I say this as a cancer survivor), but that precedent does not mean that they should get a free ride forever by implying that they're just using CPU cycles that "would have gone to waste" or something. Tell people that their CPU time is worth money, and offer them some incentive to use it.

If nothing else, look at this: http://www.hardcoreware.net/reviews/review-356-2.htm
Look at the PS3 figures. If you figure you let it run 24 hours a day, and pay about $0.15/kWh (I think that's what my last bill was, including distribution charge), it works out to about 70 cents a day -- twenty dollars a month. That doesn't include the cost of the console, or your internet connection of course, but I think it's safe to call those "sunk costs". So bare minimum, you can expect Sony to pay you 20 bucks per CPU-month you let them use, and I would expect more than that in retail value if they're giving away products -- say, 25 or 30 dollars worth of Playstation Store goodies per CPU-month (keeping in mind that nobody is likely to use their PS3 exclusively for distributed computing, good-natured jibes to the contrary). I think this is a very smart move indeed on Sony's part, and if you don't like it, you probably don't understand it.

[Simon P @ Apr 12th 2007 4:44PM]

look i'm not saying people shouldn't have the right to choose. more power to them. they are, as all the righttards are pointing out a valuable commodity. but for anyone that thinks they're going to get more than a few bucks in coupons for games or free maps or such like, they're probably sadly deluded. and if you'd still rather get those than contribute to something worthy, well I probably can't type here what i'd like to......

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